‘The grief never goes away': Family of serial killer victim speaks during court hearing

CTV News

2 days ago

The family of a woman murdered by a convicted serial killer in Winnipeg over three years ago had the chance to address a courtroom on Friday and share how her death has impacted their lives.
'The grief never goes away,' said Albert Shingoose, Ashlee's father, who was visibly emotional and at times yelled at the lawyer of his daughter's convicted killer.
Ashlee Shingoose, a 30-year-old from St. Theresa Point Anishinew Nation, is believed to have been killed in March 2022 at the hands of convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.
'Living with this kind of pain is not really living,' Albert said in a written victim impact statement that was read aloud by St. Theresa Point Anishinew Nation Chief Raymond Flett.
'She left our home alone and she was doing her best to keep her dreams and goals in mind, even when she had setbacks and challenges… she had a beautiful life ahead that would have been as beautiful as she was.'
For years, Ashlee's identity remained unknown, and she was gifted the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, which translates to Buffalo Woman, by members of the Indigenous community.
Skibicki was convicted in July 2024 of her murder along with three other Indigenous women—Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24—but Ashlee's identity was not known until March after police made a positive identification using DNA from evidence.
'When we finally got confirmation that Buffalo Woman was (Ashlee) it was like my heart had stopped,' Albert wrote in his victim impact statement.
A collage bearing Ashlee Shingoose's name and the depiction of a buffalo head stood in the courtroom, which was smudged beforehand. Her father held an eagle feather as he spoke and was surrounded by supporters.
Ashlee Shingoose in an undated image. (File photo)
Ashlee Shingoose in an undated image. (File photo)
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said the hearing was held to 'provide the Shingoose family with the same opportunity as was provided to the families of Mr. Skibicki's other victims,' who gave victim impact statements during his sentencing last year.
'It is an opportunity to acknowledge the dignity of Ashlee Shingoose, to acknowledge who she was, where she came from, who she loved, and what was lost with her murder,' said Joyal in his opening remarks.
'I want an eye for an eye': victim's father
Notably absent from the nearly full courtroom was Skibicki, who was under no legal obligation to attend. The hearing, which was of an 'extraordinary nature,' had no impact on Skibicki's legal jeopardy, according to Joyal.
'I wanted Mr. Skibicki here,' said Albert while looking at Skibicki's lawyer, Peter Kingsley.
'I would have said to him, 'I want an eye for an eye,'' said Albert.
Kingsley said that Skibicki's absence was not out of 'disrespect,' but that it was his client's 'firm belief that his presence in the courtroomwould bring further harm' to the family and others. He said that he would relay the comments to Skibicki.
Albert's statement said he combed the streets of Winnipeg for months after learning of Ashlee's disappearance.
'Although my wife wanted to join me in this search, she could not leave our children and grandchildren, so we had to make the decision for me to go out on my own. I left with whatever little financial resources we had as a family because our daughter needed to be found,' he wrote.
'I don't think there are words strong enough to describe the pain I live with every single day.'
In August 2024, Skibicki was sentenced to four concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years for the murders. However, Albert voiced his concern over the possibility of Skibicki's release on parole.
'He took my daughter's life away; why should he come out,' said Albert.
The courtroom also heard from Theresa Shingoose, Ashlee's mother, and Melanie Beardy, Ashlee's sister.
After the hearing, Albert told reporters outside the court that he was happy to have had their voices heard and is hopeful his daughter's remains will be found.
Police believe Ashlee's remains are in the Brady Road Landfill in Winnipeg after her body was placed in a garbage bin on Henderson Highway.
On Wednesday, Premier Wab Kinew confirmed workers have started excavating a section of the landfill where they plan to search for her remains later this year.
'What I want and what I need is for my daughter to be honoured, her story acknowledged, and for no other family to be left in the dark the way mine has been,' said Albert's victim impact statement.